MA Political Theory Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MA Political Theory
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MA
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9	What level is this qualification?			Level 7			Length of programme			1 Year/ 2 Year
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full & Part Time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			18th Sept - 2nd Feb 5th Feb - 17th Sept
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Politics
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17	Lead department			Politics			Other contributing departments			N/A
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			campus-based
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	N/A
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27	Reference points
28	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
29	University Framework for Programme Design
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31	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
32	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
33	N/a
34	N/a
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36	Exceptions to Regulations
37	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
38	N/a
39	N/a
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41	Internal Transfers
42	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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44		Transfers in:	students who meet the entry requirements will be able to transfer into the programme up to week 4 of the autumn term.				Transfers out:	students who meet the entry requirements will be able to transfer into the programme up to week 4 of the autumn term.
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47	Statement of Purpose
48	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
49	The MA in Political Theory will push you to think about why and how people should organise their communal lives. Working within a range of traditions and approaches (including historical, critical, and analytical), you will be taught to analyse, compare, and assess the very different standpoints theorists have adopted on topics such as freedom, justice, and equality. You will have the opportunity to apply these approaches to real world questions, such as the justice of global borders, the location of power in our democracies, and the nature of gender and race-based oppressions. Through participating in research-led seminars and attending departmental workshops, you will engage with historically important arguments and will be introduced to new developments in the field. By developing and writing a dissertation, you will develop the skills and techniques needed to conduct independent and original research, from formulating innovative research questions to generating persuasive and intellectually sound arguments. You will leave the MA with an extensive knowledge of key debates and approaches in political theory, and of the importance of these theoretical issues when engaging in any academic study, including empirical political science work. Upon successfully completing the programme, you will be excellently placed to go on to further academic study, to other research-based positions, or to any professional career in which analysis, precision, and clear reasoning are demanded, including work in the civil service, local government, the charity sector, the media and the law.
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57	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
58	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
59	Postgraduate Certificate in Political Theory			N/A	N/A				To qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate students must pass modules worth a total of 60 credits.
60	Postgraduate Diploma in Political Theory			N/A	N/A				To qualify for a Postgraduate Diploma students must pass modules worth a total of 120 credits that can include the ISM or dissertation module (60 credits).
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62	Programme Learning Outcomes
63	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
64	1	Demonstrate knowledge and critical awareness of problems and debates in political theory and its history, including normative and conceptual debates over key concepts and theories with reference to contrasting schools of political thought. [Skill: Knowledge Base]
65	2	Identify different approaches to political theory, including critical, historical, and analytical approaches, and the ways in which these are used by a range of political theorists. [Skill: Evaluation]
66	3	Identify and employ different methodologies of research and enquiry to create and interpret knowledge in political theory. [Skill: Disciplinary Methodologies]
67	4	Critically analyse advanced scholarship in the discipline, evaluating and deploying established methods of political theory. [Skills: Analysis/Application]
68	5	Produce original research through the formulation of research questions, identifying and locating appropriate resources, responding effectively to existing literature, developing original and convincing theoretical arguments and sucessfuly communicate their ideas. [Skills: Autonomy/Management of Information/Communication]
69	6	Demonstrate awareness of differences in intellectual viewpoints, and the benefits of learning from these, through critically responding to both long-standing and recently developed arguments in political theory. [Skills: Interpersonal and professional]
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71	Diverse entry routes
72	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
73	The Political Theory programme offers an extensive induction activity to provide students with an overview of the programme learning objectives and the annual programme benchmarks including progression indicators. This orientation enables students to better assess their learning and studying requirements to successfully engage with the course materials and to navigate the theoretical and practical components of the programme. In addition, throughout the autumn term, the department run regular Study Skills sessions for PGT students. Sessions focus on: reading and taking effective notes; participating in seminars; and developing academic writing skills. For non-native English speakers these study skills sessions are supplemented by English language classes run by the Centre for English Language Teaching. All students participate in department-run Turnitin workshops and complete the University's academic integrity tutorial.
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79	Inclusion
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81	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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83	Employability
84	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
85	Seminars and assessed work offer students the opportunity to develop their critical reasoning, analytical, research, and written and oral communication skills, all of which will enhance student's employability. Upon completing the MA, students will be particularly well placed to apply for several careers ranging from academia, government, the civil service, research and policy-making, international organisations and NGOs, charities, business and the financial sector. For those students who wish to pursue research-orintated careers in both academic and non-academic contexts the MA provides rigourous training in the skills of critical evalution and project design through assessed essays and the dissertation.
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91	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
92	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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94	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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96	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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98	Year in enterprise			FALSE
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100	Placement year			FALSE